Long Weekend

This is how I envision my Memorial Day Weekend...Off to Fort Worth to see the BF!

Hope everyone has a safe & happy Memorial Day.

XOXO

what i'm listening to now...

Since I've been so busy recently, I decided to take make a quick post to share one of my favorite songs right now. Hope this helps you get through the day. Enjoy!

I promise to be back soon.

Pinterest Love

I'm sorry for the blog hiatus! Things have been a little crazy around here.  

BUT, during the last couple of weeks, I have discovered something life changing…it’s called Pinterest (I can’t take all the credit)! My good friend Lezni, from Homemade Happiness, told me about it, knowing it would be right up my alley and I have already recruited a few other friends to join in on the fun as well.

I started “pinning” as soon as Pinterest accepted me into their exclusive club, and I couldn’t help but notice that a majority of my pins had something in common = the color green. I have always been drawn to greens and yellows, and it’s safe to say that chartreuse is my favorite color in the world! While looking at my pins, these 5 images just looked beautiful together and I couldn’t help but share. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and I think you should go on over to My Pinterest Page to see the rest of my pins. Happy pinning!!

Hair Do's

All of these are hair do's in my book!

making me blush...

These are a few of my favorite things...

The second I saw this picture on one of my high school girlfriends blogs, I immediately saved it to my computer. Could New Orleans be any more beautiful?!

Love these desks...

This was in House Beautiful a few years ago. I think it would make a precious little girls' bathroom! Love the wallpaper.

ORANGE

I love a good *pop* of color mixed with neutrals!

She is so stinking cute. The Atlantic-Pacific blog is one of my favorite daily reads - http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com/  ... check it out, if you haven't already! 

I have always believed that the perfect way to add color to a room is through art and accessories.

LOVE the simplicity of this room, and the tall, orange headboards.

Don't you wish you were this organized?!

Pink + Orange = classic color combination

Chicken & Veggies (my latest obsession)...

1.       Heat oven to 350

2.       Cut chicken breasts in half butterfly style

3.       Place chicken breasts in bottom of pampered chef deep, covered baker (http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=13833&catId=9&parentCatId=9&outletSubCat)

4.       Lightly coat chicken with fiesta ranch seasoning and Tony’s

5.       Cut the following veggies and place in large bowl: 1 zucchini, 1 package of mushrooms (so good in this recipe), handful of frozen, skinny green beans from Whole Foods, red potatoes, Guidry’s pre-cut creole seasoning to taste, 1 small red pepper, handful of carrots, and fresh rosemary.

6.       Cover veggies with enough olive oil for moisture - usually about a tablespoon or a little less (the seasonings create a lot of juice, so you really only need enough oil for the spice to stick)

7.       Sprinkle fiesta ranch seasoning (about ½ packet) and Tony’s on veggies

8.       Pour veggie mix over chicken in stoneware baker

9.       Bake dish @ 350d for 1 hour

10.   Serve over brown rice

All of the seasoning and juices from the chicken and veggies makes a good bit of liquid to pour over your rice :) Very good, healthy recipe!

**This is my spin on my best friend Jessica's Chicken Foil Packets recipe. Like my mother, I had to break it down and make it as simple and easy as possible (the kitchen is NOT our favorite room in the house)!

I could eat this every day...in fact, I did last week!

11th Decorators' Show Home

Today I toured The Hospice of Baton Rouge - 11th Decorators' Show Home with my mom. For those of you who do not know what Hospice is, Hospice exists to support and care for persons in the last stages of an incurable illness, helping them live as fully and comforatably as possible. The organization holds a special place in my heart, and I am thankful for all that they do.

The home was beautiful and got my creative juices flowing again, which was just what I needed after a long week of work!

I love this idea for a simple floral arrangement, using calla lilies!

Sun Room by McMillin Interiors, LTD.

I like how anything goes in this room! I have been wondering how to design a room around an oriental rug, and what type of patterns work well for throw pillows. 

Entrance Foyer by Ty Larkin Interiors

Love, love, love! This was my favorite room in the house, and was probably one of the smallest spaces. Ty's use of bold colors and geometric patterns had me from hello! Not to mention my favorite color (chartreuse) is an accent throughout.

Bedroom #2 by Nolan-Kimble Interiors

Sun Deck by Laura Roland of Fireside Antiques

This is where I fell in love, for the second time in one day! How amazing is this vertical wall of succulents! 

All of these beautiful succulents were simply placed, still in their plastic containers, into the wooden box and hung on the brick wall. I feel a D.I.Y. project coming on...

Master Dressing Room & Bath by Designers III

Everything about this room was perfect...the mirrored walls, white marble countertops, and fresh cut flowers made me want to sit and stay for a while. How could you not feel pretty while getting ready in a elegant bathroom like this?!

Master Bedroom by Michael & Cati Hardy

The first thing I noticed when I waked into this room was the pair of lamps on each bedside table. Just the other day I was in Marshalls and walked around the store for a good 20 minutes with a lamp identical to this in my buggy. I didn't buy the lamp that day, but you better believe I made my mom drive out to Marshalls as soon as we left and snatched it up! Next on my To Do List is to find a parchment lamp shade to paint for my new lamp :)

Bar by Nancy Zito

I have been talking about "my bar" for a few months now. Like any true designer, I have it all planned out in my head...I think it's finally time I buy all the parts and pieces and start mixing!

Kitchen/Keeping Room by Helaine Moyse

While I was in interior design school at LSU I interned for Helaine, and am so grateful for everything she taught me. She has never been afraid to use color, and has a great appreciation for natural materials and the outdoors.

The second I stepped into this room I knew it had to be her design. The white slipcovered wing chairs, glass jug and otomi tablecloth just say "Helaine".

Back Porch by Ryan Cole Landscape Design

Look at that gorgeous door with arched top!

Just another view of the Foyer I love. My mom asked me "would you hang blank picture frames on the wall like that?"...I think I would. Would you??

Mom enjoying the view from the back porch, dreaming of how *we* will decorate their next house!

Dining Room by Dixon Smith Interiors

Dixon is a very well known interior designer in Baton Rouge and most of the talented designers in the city have once studied under her. I had the opportunity to intern with Dixon Smith Interiors during my senior year at LSU, and am greatful for everything she taught me. 

Almost every room in the Decorators' Show Home had a beautiful chandelier such as the one above. Jim Smith, Dixons' son, actually gave me not one, but TWO Visual Comfort chandeliers while working for them. Now I just need a home to put them in :)

Don't you just love the colors in this painting, in contrast with the dark grey walls?